U.S. patent number 7,905,076 [Application Number 12/274,718] was granted by the patent office on 2011-03-15 for apparatus and method for conveying envelopes in a mailpiece insertion system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pitney Bowes Inc.. Invention is credited to Arthur H. Depoi, John R. Masotta, Boris Rozenfeld, John W. Sussmeier, William J. Wright, Anthony E. Yap.
United States Patent |
7,905,076 |
Rozenfeld , et al. |
March 15, 2011 |
Apparatus and method for conveying envelopes in a mailpiece
insertion system
Abstract
An apparatus includes a first feed path configured to transport
an envelope from an input at an envelope supply to an insertion
location, and a second feed path configured to transport the
envelope with a mail piece insert therein from the insertion
location to an output. The first and second feed paths intersect at
an intersection spaced from the insertion location. The paths are
angled relative to each other at the intersection.
Inventors: |
Rozenfeld; Boris (New Milford,
CT), Yap; Anthony E. (Southington, CT), Wright; William
J. (Killingworth, CT), Depoi; Arthur H. (Brookfield,
CT), Masotta; John R. (Bethel, CT), Sussmeier; John
W. (Cold Spring, NY) |
Assignee: |
Pitney Bowes Inc. (Stamford,
CT)
|
Family
ID: |
41361199 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/274,718 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100122514 A1 |
May 20, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
53/473; 53/250;
271/2; 270/58.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B43M
3/045 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B43M
3/04 (20060101); B43M 3/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;53/460,467,468,473,492,569,284.3,249,250,381.5,381.7 ;270/58.06
;271/2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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597437 |
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May 1994 |
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EP |
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63307002 |
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Dec 1988 |
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JP |
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04201298 |
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Jul 1992 |
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JP |
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07047796 |
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Feb 1995 |
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JP |
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07061183 |
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Mar 1995 |
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JP |
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2001180157 |
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Jul 2001 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Gerrity; Stephen F
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Collins; Brian A. Shapiro; Steven
Malandra, Jr.; Charles R.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus, comprising: an envelope supply; an insertion
device configured to insert a mail piece insert into an envelope
while the envelope is in a flap-down position in an insertion
location; and a transportation system configured to transport the
envelope from the envelope supply to the insertion location with a
closed end of the envelope, which is located opposite a flap end of
the envelope, as a forward leading edge of the envelope, wherein
the transportation system comprises a first feed path from the
envelope supply to the insertion location, and a second feed path
from the insertion location to an output, and wherein the first
feed path and the second feed path intersect downstream of the
insertion location.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the envelope supply is
vertically spaced from the insertion location.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first feed path is
substantially vertical at the intersection and the second feed path
is substantially horizontal at the intersection.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first feed path and the
second feed path are angled relative to each other at the
intersection at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second feed path is
substantially straight, and wherein the first feed path comprises a
downstream redirection of approximately 180 degrees.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first feed path comprises
at least one redirection of approximately 90 degrees located
upstream from the downstream redirection.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first feed path and the
second feed path are configured to transport the envelope
substantially simultaneously with a second envelope, wherein the
apparatus further comprises a controller connected to drives of the
first feed path and the second feed path, and wherein the
controller is configured to prevent the envelope from contacting
the second envelope at the intersection.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured
to allow only one envelope at a time in an intersection zone
proximate to the intersection.
9. A method, comprising: transporting an envelope along a first
feed path from an input to an insertion location; and transporting
the envelope, with a mail piece insert therein, along a second feed
path from the insertion location to an output, wherein the first
feed path and the second feed path intersect downstream of the
insertion location.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first feed path and the
second feed path are angled relative to each other at the
intersection at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first feed path redirects
the envelope approximately 180 degrees.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the envelope is transported
along the first feed path with a closed end of the envelope, which
is located opposite a flap end of the envelope, as a forward
leading edge of the envelope, wherein the envelope is positioned at
the insertion location in a flap-down position.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first feed path and the
second feed path are configured to transport the envelope
substantially simultaneously with a second envelope, wherein the
first and second paths comprise multiple drive motors connected to
a controller, the method further comprising controlling the drive
motors to prevent the envelope from contacting the second envelope
at the intersection.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the drive motors are controlled
to allow only one envelope at a time in an intersection zone
proximate to the intersection.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an envelope transport and, more
particularly, to the feeding of envelopes to a mail piece insertion
location.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Inserter machines are used to create mail pieces for many different
applications. Inserters contain a generally modular array of
components to carry out the various processes associated with mail
piece creation. The processes include preparing documents,
assembling the documents associated with a given mail piece, adding
any designated inserts, stuffing the assembly into an envelope in
the envelope insertion engine, and printing information on the
envelope.
In the inserter industry, there are generally two arrangements
utilized for the envelope insertion engine: "flap-up" insertion and
"flap-down" insertion. Flap-up insertion refers to an envelope
orientation in which the flap of the open envelope is located above
the prepared collation, which is substantially horizontal during
the insertion of the collation into the envelope. The geometry of
some flap-up insertion engines allows the envelope hopper to be
located on the operator side of the machine without introducing the
complexity and reduced reliability of a right angle turn. In other
words, the envelope path from the envelope hopper to the insertion
location is substantially linear.
However, some flap-up inserter designs require additional steps in
building the collation in order to place the address-bearing
document on the top of the collation. The additional steps may
reduce the operating reliability of those systems.
Flap-down insertion refers to an envelope orientation in which the
open envelope is arranged in the insertion engine with its flap
located underneath a prepared collation, which is substantially
horizontal during the insertion of the collation into the envelope.
In flap down inserting, the address-bearing document remains on the
bottom while the collation is built. That arrangement may simplify
the process of building the collation.
In some flap-down inserter designs, however, it is necessary to
utilize a more complex feed path including a right angle turn, for
example, in order to locate the envelope hopper on the operator
side of the machine.
SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY ASPECTS
In the following description, certain aspects and embodiments of
the present invention will become evident. It should be understood
that the invention, in its broadest sense, could be practiced
without having one or more features of these aspects and
embodiments. It should also be understood that these aspects and
embodiments are merely exemplary.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is
provided comprising a first feed path configured to transport an
envelope from an input at an envelope supply to an insertion
location and a second feed path configured to transport the
envelope with a mail piece insert therein from the insertion
location to an output. The first feed path and the second feed path
may intersect at an intersection spaced from the insertion
location.
In another aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus comprising
an envelope supply, an insertion device configured to insert a mail
piece insert into an envelope while the envelope is in a flap-down
position in an insertion location, and a transportation system
configured to transport the envelope from the envelope supply to
the insertion location with a closed end of the envelope, which is
located opposite a flap end of the envelope, as a forward leading
edge of the envelope. The transportation system may comprise a
first feed path from the envelope supply to the insertion location
and a second feed path from the insertion location to an output.
The first feed path and the second feed path may intersect at an
intersection spaced from the insertion location.
In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method comprising
transporting an envelope along a first feed path from an input to
an insertion location and transporting the envelope, with a mail
piece insert therein, along a second feed path from the insertion
location to an output. The first feed path and the second feed path
may intersect at an intersection spaced from the insertion
location.
Aside from the structural and procedural arrangements set forth
above, the invention could include a number of other arrangements,
such as those explained hereinafter. It is to be understood that
both the foregoing description and the following description are
exemplary only.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute
a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of
the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain
the principles of the invention. In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematic of a document inserting system
having an envelope insertion station according to one illustrative
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the document inserter of the
envelope insertion station shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the envelope insertion station
shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view of the envelope insertion
station shown in FIG. 3 illustrating locations of leading edges of
envelopes during travel through the envelope insertion station;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the intersection of the first feed
path and the second feed path;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a top side of an envelope with the
flap in an open position; and
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of
the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same
or like parts.
Envelope insertion stations are important subsystems of document
inserting systems. An envelope insertion device typically inserts
collated enclosures into a waiting envelope. The envelope insertion
device may be used with enclosures of varying thickness and with
enclosures that are not significantly different in length than the
length of the envelopes into which they are inserted.
Some envelope insertion stations use continuously running transport
belts on the deck of the insertion station, wherein the transport
belts feed the envelope. Once the envelope is at an insertion
position, a stop is used prevent the envelope from continuing with
the belt. In one example, the transport belt slides along the
underside of the envelope while the envelope is stopped by the
stop.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic block diagram of a
document inserting system 10 incorporating features of the
invention. Although the invention will be described with reference
to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be
understood that the invention may be embodied in many alternate
forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type
of elements or materials may be used. The document inserting system
10 shown in FIG. 1 includes an insertion station 100. The document
inserting system 10 is illustrative and many other configurations
may be utilized.
The system 10 includes an input system 12 that feeds paper sheets
from a paper web to an accumulating station that accumulates the
sheets of paper in collation packets. In one example, only a single
sheet of a collation (e.g., the control document) is coded. The
coded information enables the control system 14 of the inserter
system 10 to control the processing of documents in the various
stations of the mass mailing inserter system.
The input system 12 feeds sheets in a paper path, as indicated by
arrow "a", along what is known as the main deck of the inserter
system 10. After sheets are accumulated into collations by the
input system 12, the collations are folded in a folding station 16.
The folded collations are then conveyed to a transport station 18.
In one example, the transport station 18 is operative to perform
buffering operations for maintaining a proper timing scheme for the
processing of documents in the insertion system 10.
Each sheet collation is fed from the transport station 18 to the
insert feeder station 20. It is to be appreciated that an inserter
system 10 may include a plurality of feeder stations, but for
clarity, only a single insert feeder 20 is shown in FIG. 1.
The insert feeder station 20 is operational to convey an insert
(e.g., an advertisement) from a supply tray to the main deck of
inserter system 10 to be combined with the sheet collation
conveying along the main deck. The sheet collation, along with the
nested insert(s), are next conveyed into the envelope insertion
station 100 that is operative to first open the envelope and then
to insert the collation into the opening of the envelope. The
envelope is then conveyed to a postage station 22. Finally, the
envelope is conveyed to a sorting station 24 that sorts the
envelopes in accordance with postal discount requirements.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the envelope insertion station 100
according to an illustrative embodiment is shown. In operation, an
envelope enters the insertion station 100 along a guide path 114
and is transported into the insertion station 100 by a set of
transport rollers 116, 118 and continuously running transport belts
121, 123, 125. Each transport belt 121, 123, 125, respectively,
wraps around rollers 127, 129, 131, each roller being connected to
a common shaft 133a. Each transport belt 121, 123, 125 is
juxtaposed between deck strips that form the transport deck 141 of
the insertion station 100.
The motion of each transport belt 121, 123, 125 is continuous for
maintaining registration of an envelope 112 against a backstop 180.
Continuous vacuum from each of the deck strips via their respective
vacuum plenums prevents undesirable motion of the envelope due to
the transport belts 121, 123, 125 continuously running beneath.
In one embodiment, rotating backstop members 180 are located
outside the vacuum deck strips in an elongate slot. Each backstop
member 180 is concentrically mounted about a common shaft 182 for
effecting rotation thereof. Each stopping portion 184 is configured
to stop an envelope when it is above the deck 141 of the insertion
station 100. A servo motor (not shown) causes rotation of the
backstop members 180 about an axle 182. Other arrangements may also
be used.
The insertion station 100 includes envelope flap retainers 124 and
rotating insertion horns 126, 128, each having an underside that
helps to conform an envelope to each transport belt 121, 123, 125,
while not presenting any catch points for the leading edge of the
enclosure collation 130 to be inserted in a waiting open envelope
112.
The horns 126, 128 are supported from above the envelope path and
are eccentrically mounted on pivot shafts 103. They are positioned
perpendicular to the path of the envelope travel as the envelope is
conveyed to backstop members 180. In some embodiments, discussed
below, a vacuum assembly is used to open the envelope during
insertion of the collation. Once the vacuum assembly 70 has begun
to open the envelope, the insertion horns 126, 128 pivot into the
envelope and continue their pivoting motion until the extreme edges
of the envelope have been shaped and supported by the profile of
each horn 126 and 128.
Rotating insertion horns 126, 128 perform the additional function
of centering the envelope 112 in the path of the oncoming enclosure
collation 130. At this time an oncoming enclosure collation 130 may
be introduced and pushed through the insertion horns 126, 128 into
a waiting envelope 112. In one embodiment, the pivot shaft of each
insertion horn 126, 128 is driven by a servo motor (not shown).
Other arrangements may also be used.
The insertion station 100 further includes an envelope opening
vacuum assembly 70 for separating the back panel of an envelope
from its front panel. The vacuum assembly 70 is perpendicular to
the transport deck 141 of the insertion station 100. The vacuum
assembly 70 includes a reciprocating vacuum cup 72 that translates
vertically downward toward the surface of the transport deck 141
and then upward away from the transport deck 141 to a height
sufficient to allow a stuffed envelope to pass under it. The vacuum
cup 72 adheres to the back panel of an envelope through a vacuum
force present in the vacuum cup 72, so as to separate the
envelope's back panel away from its front panel during the upward
travel of the vacuum cup 72.
The enclosure collations 130 are fed into the insertion station 100
by means of a pair of overhead pusher fingers 132 extending from a
pair of overhead belts 134 relative to the deck of the inserter
system 10. As with the envelope 112, the top side of the envelope
flap retainers 124 and the associated interior of the insertion
horns 126, 128 must not present any catch points for the leading
edge of the enclosure collation 130.
An envelope 112 is conveyed to the transport deck 141 of the
insertion station 100 via guide path 114, which is in connection
with an envelope supply. Once a portion of the envelope 112
contacts the continuous running transport belts 121, 123, 125,
these transport belts convey the envelope 112 downstream, as
indicated by arrow b, in the insertion station 100. Concurrently,
each deck strip of the transport deck 141 provides a continuous
vacuum force upon the envelope 112 via vacuum plenums, so as to
force the envelope 112 against the continuous running transport
belts 121, 123, 125.
Next, an elongate stopping portion 184 of the backstop member 180
is caused to extend above the transport deck 141 at a height
sufficient to stop travel of the envelope 112 in the insertion
station 100. The leading edge of the envelope 112 then abuts
against the stopping portion 184 of the backstop member 180, so as
to prevent further travel of the envelope 112.
While the envelope 112 is abutting against the stopping portion 184
of the backstop member 180, the transport belts 121, 123, 125 are
continuously running beneath the envelope 112. The continuous
vacuum force applied to the envelope 112 by the deck strips acts to
stabilize the envelope 112 on the transport deck 141 while it is
abutting against backstop member 180. The vacuum force, therefore,
prevents undesirable motion of the envelope 112 caused by the
friction of the continuously running transport belts 121, 123,
125.
When the envelope 112 is disposed in the insertion station 100, the
vacuum cup 72 of the vacuum assembly 70 is caused to reciprocate
downward towards the back panel of envelope 112. The vacuum cup 72
adheres to the back panel and then reciprocates upwards, so as to
separate the back panel from the envelope front panel to create an
open channel in the envelope 112. The enclosure collation 130 is
then conveyed towards the envelope 112 by the pusher fingers
132.
At first, the insertion horns 126, 128 are positioned in a first
position in which their respective stripper blade portions 170 are
positioned outside of the open end of the closed envelope 112.
Before the conveying enclosure collation 130 is advanced into the
open channel of envelope 112, each insertion horn 126, 128 is
pivoted approximately 65 degrees towards its second position. When
pivoted, the insertion horns 126, 128 provide a guide path into the
open channel of the envelope 112 through which an enclosure
collation 130 travels into the envelope 112.
Referring also to FIG. 3, the invention may provide intersecting
paper paths for a high speed inserter. In one embodiment, the
invention comprises intersecting envelope paths and a controller to
provide uninterrupted material flow of un-stuffed envelopes and
stuffed envelopes through the intersection to a flap-down insertion
location. The envelope hopper 200 may be located so as to be
accessible to the operator and may provide a linear motion of the
envelopes (i.e., no abrupt lateral or right-angle shifts in
direction) down to the insertion deck. In some embodiments, the
invention provides a flap-down inserter that includes many of the
benefits of a flap-up inserter.
FIG. 3 illustrates the intersecting envelope paths and the
surrounding geometry according to embodiments of the invention. The
envelope hopper 200 contains a stack of envelopes 112 oriented
face-up. The flaps of the envelopes are in a closed position in a
flap-down and flap trailing orientation. Based on its location, as
seen in FIG. 1, the envelope hopper 200 is accessible to the
operator proximate to the open side 202. The hopper 200 is located
vertically above the transport deck 141. The envelope path from the
hopper 200 down to the deck 141 at the insertion station 100
provides a linear motion of the envelope (i.e., no abrupt right
angle shifts in direction of the envelope from a first direction to
an orthogonal second direction). In several conventional flap-down
embodiments, the envelope hopper is located outboard (i.e., to the
extreme right in FIG. 3) of the Mailing Output System (MOS), making
envelope loading difficult or impossible to accomplish from the
operator side 202.
Envelopes are fed by an envelope feeder from the hopper 200. The
envelope feeder comprises an envelope separating device 204 and an
envelope staging nip 206. Once an envelope is at rest and staged
under the control of this nip 206, at the appropriate time the
staging nip 206 accelerates the envelope vertically downward and
through the paper path intersection zone 208 to be received by the
envelope staging areas 210.
An envelope flap opening mechanism 212 is provided downstream of
the intersection zone 208. Also located within the envelope staging
area 210 is an envelope diverter 214, which is actuated to remove
an envelope from the paper path in the event that that the envelope
failed to open the flap at the envelope flap opener 212. After an
envelope exits the envelope staging area 210, it enters the
envelope insertion location 216 under the control of the vacuum
deck 141 and comes to rest with its leading edge located at the
rotary backstops 180.
FIG. 4 illustrates diagrammatically the staging locations for
leading edges (LE) of an envelope as it moves from the envelope
hopper 200 to the insertion location 216 on the vacuum deck 141,
also sometimes referred to as the insertion deck.
As shown in FIG. 4, LE 1 is the position of the leading edge of the
bottom-most envelope in the envelope hopper 200. LE 2 is the
position of the leading edge of the envelope at the envelope
staging location proximate to the staging nip 206 upstream of the
intersection zone 208. LE 3 is the position of the leading edge of
the envelope at the envelope staging location 210 downstream from
the intersection zone 208. LE 4 is the position of the leading edge
of the envelope at the final envelope staging location (sometimes
referred to as the arm position) before the envelope is delivered
to the insertion deck 141. LE 5 is the position of the leading edge
of the envelope at the location of the envelope during insertion,
where the leading edge of the envelope is defined by the location
of the rotary backstops 180.
FIG. 4 illustrates the five staging positions for a small depth
envelope. Small depth envelopes are defined herein as envelopes
having a depth of approximately 6.5 inches or less. Such envelopes
typically accommodate tri-fold and half-fold applications. For
small depth envelopes, the staging area 210 normally contains two
envelopes.
Larger depth envelopes are defined as envelopes having a depth
greater than approximately 6.5 inches. Those envelopes typically
accommodate flats applications. For larger depth envelopes, the
staging area 210 normally contains only one envelope, and the
staging position shown in FIG. 4 as LE 3 is eliminated. However,
features of the invention may be used with envelopes having any
suitable size.
The envelope staging nip 206 and the staging area 210 may be driven
by a single servo motor or a plurality of motors (M2, M3, M4), as
shown in FIG. 4, to provide a rapid incremental start/stop motion
to transfer envelopes from stage to stage within one insertion
cycle. Once an envelope is stuffed on the vacuum deck 141, its
departure is controlled by the rotary motion of the backstops 180,
which pivot below the insertion deck, allowing the stuffed envelope
to be pushed out of the insertion area by the overhead pushers 132
with the assistance of the constant velocity vacuum deck belts 121,
123, 125. The stuffed envelope is subsequently held at nip 207
prior to passing through the intersection zone 208.
The control system 14 (see FIG. 1) ensures that all five envelopes
move in unison, or perhaps slightly offset, in start/stop fashion
and advance to the next staging area (i.e., LE location) within one
cycle time. Once the stuffed envelope passes through the
intersection zone 208, it is conveyed by an output belt 218 for
subsequent mail finishing in the MOS.
Control logic and envelope motion profiles are engineered and paper
(e.g., envelope) path lengths are tuned and finalized to a single
fixed geometry to allow un-stuffed envelopes to pass vertically
through the intersection zone 208 when an inserted envelope (i.e.,
horizontal motion) is not present in the zone. Similarly, stuffed
envelopes pass horizontally through the insertion zone 208 when an
un-stuffed envelope (i.e., vertical motion) is not present in the
zone. Therefore, during steady state operation, un-stuffed and
stuffed envelopes pass through the intersection zone 208
alternately without colliding. In order to accomplish this, the
combined time of both a stuffed envelope and an un-stuffed envelope
(with the maximum allowable flap length) in the intersection zone
208 should not exceed one machine cycle. Velocities, motion
profiles, and paper path lengths are determined accordingly to
guarantee this across a wide range of envelope sizes.
FIG. 5 illustrates a rule that was created to ensure a highly
reliable intersection zone 208. The intersection zone 208 was
established and timing was generated to ensure that no portion of
two envelopes (stuffed and un-stuffed) are present in the
intersection zone 208 simultaneously. In one embodiment, an
intersection zone having a side dimension of approximately 2 inches
was established to provide a large design margin in a motion
control system, where maximum servo motion control errors typically
do not exceed 1/16 of an inch. Intersection zones of other sizes
may also be used.
The following table with the resulting cycle rates is an example
for a wide range of envelope depths achieved without paper path
velocities exceeding 125 inches/second or accelerations exceeding 8
g, where Tcycle is the period of a machine cycle in seconds.
TABLE-US-00001 Envelope Size #10 6.5'' .times. 9'' 10'' .times.
13'' 12'' .times. 9'' Envelope Depth 4.125 6.5 10 12 (inches) Cycle
Rate (K/hour) 22 18 13 11 Max Flap (inches) 2.56 2.56 2.56 2.56
Tcycle (seconds) 0.164 0.200 0.277 0.327
Embodiments of the invention may provide a system having the
advantages of flap-up devices, such as a simple paper path and
accessible envelope hopper, as well as the advantages of flap-down
devices, such as reliability of inserting.
Embodiments of the invention may provide an apparatus having an
envelope transport system comprising a first feed path 230
configured to transport an envelope 112 from an input at an
envelope supply 200 to an insertion location 216, and a second feed
path 232 configured to transport the envelope with an insert 130
therein from the insertion location 216 towards an output. The
first and second feed paths intersect at the intersection zone 208,
which is spaced from the insertion location 216. The paths 230, 232
are angled relative to each other at the intersection zone 208.
The first feed path 230 is substantially vertical at the
intersection zone 208 and the second feed path 232 is substantially
horizontal at the intersection zone 208. The first and second feed
paths are angled relative to each other at the intersection at an
angle of approximately 90 degrees. However, any suitable angle
could be provided. The input from the envelope supply 200 is
located vertically above the second feed path 232.
In the embodiment shown, as best seen in FIG. 3, the second feed
path 232 is substantially straight. The first feed path 230
comprises a downstream redirection of the envelope of approximately
180 degrees. The first feed path also comprises at least one
redirection of about 90 degrees located upstream from that
redirection.
The first and second feed paths may be configured to transport the
envelope substantially simultaneously with a second envelope. The
controller 14 is connected to drives M1-M5 of the first and second
feed paths. The controller, by controlling the drives M1-M5 and the
backstops 180, is configured to allow only one envelope at a time
in the intersection zone 208 proximate to the intersection.
Referring also to FIG. 6, the first feed path is configured to
transport the envelope from the input to the insertion location 216
with a closed end 234 of the envelope, which is located opposite a
flap end 236 of the envelope, as a forward leading edge of the
envelope, and to deliver the envelope at the insertion location 216
in a flap-down position to insert the mail piece insert into the
envelope.
Embodiments of the invention may provide an apparatus comprising an
envelope supply, an insertion station configured to insert a mail
piece insert into an envelope while the envelope is in a flap-down
position, and a transportation system configured to transport the
envelope from the envelope supply to the insertion location 216
with a closed end 234 of the envelope 112, which is located
opposite a flap end 236 of the envelope, as a forward leading edge
of the envelope.
Referring also to FIG. 7, a method of the invention may comprise
transporting an envelope along a first path from an input to an
insertion location as indicated by block 240, and transporting the
envelope with a mail piece insert therein along a second path from
the insertion location to an output, as indicated by block 242. As
indicated by block 244, the first and second paths intersect at an
intersection that is spaced from the insertion location.
Referring also to FIG. 1, the invention may comprise a controller
14 having a memory 26 with software forming a program storage
device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a
machine for performing operations as described above. For example,
the operations may comprise transporting an envelope along a first
path from an input to an insertion location, and transporting the
envelope with a mail piece insert therein along a second path from
the insertion location to an output, wherein the first and second
paths intersect at an angle at a location spaced from the insertion
location.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure and
methodology described herein. Thus, it should be understood that
the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the
specification. Rather, the present invention is intended to cover
modifications and variations.
* * * * *